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Canada's great, shareable storiesSat, 10 Dec 2016 02:59:15 +0000enhourly1http://wordpress.com/http://1.gravatar.com/blavatar/15edae77ebfa450ee5bb897103fdef31?s=96&d=http%3A%2F%2Fs2.wp.com%2Fi%2Fbuttonw-com.pngWBC – canada.comhttp://o.canada.com
WBC champ Vitali Klitschko weighs in on genuine fight in Ukrainehttp://o.canada.com/sports/wbc-champ-weighs-in-on-genuine-fight
http://o.canada.com/sports/wbc-champ-weighs-in-on-genuine-fight#respondWed, 11 Dec 2013 01:50:53 +0000http://postmediacanadadotcom.wordpress.com/?p=366181]]>Ukraine has been gripped by protests in the past few days after President Viktor Yanukovych pulled out of a deal with the European Union in favour of closer ties to Russia; the streets filled, a statue of Lenin was torn down, riot police were sent in to dismantle barricades and there have been tense moments. It could have become violent.

At one of those moments Sunday night, it was Vitali Klitschko who stepped in, calming the crowd with a megaphone, imploring them not to rush Yanukovych’s office. He is already well known in Ukraine’s political arena; he was publicly associated with the Orange Revolution in 2004, in which Yanukovych’s fraudulent election was peacefully toppled; he is the head of the Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform party, which is pro-Western and anti-corruption, and was elected to parliament in 2012. He may yet run for president.

If you watch the video from Sunday, the six-foot-seven Klitschko is hoisted on somebody’s shoulder and begins barking into the megaphone, and the crowd’s frenzy visibly dissipates. They listen. Apparently one of things he said was, “Don’t fall into a trap;” later, he is seen holding his arms out between protesters and a line of riot police. On Tuesday, Yanukovych said he would re-engage in talks with the EU; riot police, however, moved in on protesters Tuesday night.

In North America, we have got used to athletes who are not political. There’s rarely a market in it, so we don’t see the equivalent of Ali refusing induction in the draft in 1967 and losing his heavyweight title over Vietnam; we haven’t seen the equivalent of black panther salute of Tommie Smith and John Carlos on the podium at the 1968 Olympics, though Sochi is another chance to see something like that happen again.

(Friday, Yanukovych met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi, the site of the 2014 Olympic Games. This week, Putin installed a media pundit named Dmitry Kiselyov as the head of the state news agency RIA Novosti, now known as Russia Today. Kiselyov has previously stated that the organs of homosexuals should not be donated when their owners expire, but rather be burned and buried, and is also prone to conspiracy theories regarding the West. Yes, Sochi might be a particularly political Olympics.)

Wladimir Klitschko (R) of Ukraine lands a punch against Francesco Pianeta during their IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO World Championship fight at SAP Arena on May 4, 2013 in Mannheim, Germany. (Photo by Dennis Grombkowski/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Arizona Cardinals safety Pat Tillman quit football to join the U.S. Army and was killed in Afghanistan by friendly fire, but he was only really made into a political symbol when the American government lied about how he died. But our athletes don’t lead revolutions so much as they gently speak out. Steve Nash wore a T-shirts that said, “No War. Shoot for Peace” at the NBA All-Star Game in 2003, but has largely avoided politics since; Carlos Delgado stopped standing for God Bless America in 2004 as a Blue Jay over the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq; he discontinued the practice when he became a New York Met in 2006.

But those don’t carry the threat of violence, and Klitschko comes from a different world.

The Miami Heat posted pictures of themselves in hoodies to support Trayvon Martin this year. The You Can Play movement, which is on the front lines in the fight against homophobia in sports, continues to grow, and has enlisted a long list of NHL players.

But those don’t carry the threat of violence, and Klitschko comes from a different world. Klitschko’s father was a colonel in the Soviet Air Force who was deployed to the Chernobyl meltdown, and complained about the government coverup before he died at 64 of lymph node cancer; Ukraine is split between Russian speakers and Ukrainian speakers, and Klitschko grew up speaking Russian.

Given the times, though, he has lived a good part of his life in the West — he and his boxing brother Wladimir have lived in Hamburg and Los Angeles, and his brother is dating American actress Hayden Panettiere. The 42-year-old Klitschko is an example of the power of sport, and its globalization; if he had been born 20 years earlier he would never have boxed outside the Soviet system; when the revolution came, he might not have been able to calm a crowd with words.

Maybe Klitschko will run for president; maybe the protests will be crushed. Maybe he will win and disappoint, in a complicated country. But there is still time for poetry to be written about him, for words that glow. They may, however, be written in Ukrainian.

]]>http://o.canada.com/sports/wbc-champ-weighs-in-on-genuine-fight/feed0UKRAINE-UNREST-POLITICS-EU-RUSSIA-OPPOSITION-PROTESTbarthurnpWladimir Klitschko (R) of Ukraine lands a punch against Francesco Pianeta during their IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO World Championship fight at SAP Arena on May 4, 2013 in Mannheim, Germany.World Baseball Classichttp://o.canada.com/discussions/world-baseball-classic
http://o.canada.com/discussions/world-baseball-classic#respondSun, 10 Mar 2013 00:48:03 +0000http://o.canada.com/?post_type=discussion&p=212030]]>Canada slipped on the edge of history, giving up a late lead and falling 9-4 to the United States in a must-win game that eliminated the team from the World Baseball Classic.

EARLIER: We’re less than an hour away from seeing Team Canada play Team USA in the last Pool D game of the World Baseball Classic. The game is a win-or-go-home proposition for both teams.

]]>http://o.canada.com/discussions/world-baseball-classic/feed0ErniemmacrossfireCanada falls to USA 9-4, eliminated from WBChttp://o.canada.com/sports/canada-falls-to-usa-9-4-eliminated-from-wbc
http://o.canada.com/sports/canada-falls-to-usa-9-4-eliminated-from-wbc#respondMon, 11 Mar 2013 13:00:58 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=212228]]>One thing you can say about Team Canada’s 2013 World Baseball Classic is that it’s been confusing.

No one expected the 14-4 drubbing that Team Italy handed to the Canadians on Friday night. Similarly, given the supposed friendly nature of the WBC games, the all-out brawl between Canada and Mexico on Saturday night was unprecedented. A lop-sided 10-3 win was also a bit of a surprise, though certainly less so.

Going into yesterday afternoon’s final match with Team USA, Ernie Whitt and his boys sure could have expected that everything was on the up-swing.

And as far as the first seven innings were concerned, Canada was very much in this game.

Jameson Taillon, one of the bright spots for Team Canada in their loss to Team USA on Sunday, threw 4 strong innings. Photograph by: Christian Petersen/Getty

Jameson Taillon, a top prospect in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization started for the Canucks, hurling four strong innings. He allowed two runs, only one of which was earned, on four hits. He fanned three American batters, giving up just one walk. Dustin Molleken and Phillippe Aumont followed that up with three further innings of smashing work, not allowing a run.

It was the eighth inning that started Team Canada’s downfall, as the American bats came alive. Jimmy Henderson and Scott Mathieson each pitched 2/3 of an inning, both allowing three runs (all earned), essentially allowing the game to slip away, and Canada’s chances to be shot.

Team USA’s pitching, on the other hand, was quite strong. Starter, Derek Holland, may have faltered a bit, allowing a 2-run homerun to Michael Saunders in the bottom of the second, but was mostly settled in his four innings of work. Glen Perkins and David Hernandez also allowed a run each in their 1 2/3 combined innings; while Heath Bell, Steve Cishek, and Craig Kimbrel were near perfect in their combined 2 1/3 frames.

Saunders once again provided a good portion of the team’s offence, with the aforementioned homerun, a single, and two total RBI. Adam Loewen, Justin Morneau, and Chris Robinson also had two-hit games. Joey Votto was also effective at the plate, though more with his keen eye, earning two walks to go along with his base hit. Grabbing a total of nine hits in the contest, Canada looked like they might be able to out-score the Americans’ much vaunted offence. But, as with most things, time caught up with our national heroes.

Team USA’s offence didn’t really start to hit on all cylinders until inning 8, when Joe Mauer singled and was followed by David Wright’s base on balls. Willie Bloomquist was brought in as Mauer’s pinch runner, and it seemed as though the Americans were about to start something big. It was at this point that manager Joe Torre called for one of his many curious bunts (more on this later), and Ben Zobrist popped out to Robinson. Fortunately for our neighbours to the South, the inning did not stall, as Adam Jones then doubled home both Bloomquist and Wright. Shane Victorino followed this up with a single that scored Jones, giving his team a 5-2 lead.

America’s bats came alive in the top of the ninth, Brandon Phillips doubling to leadoff the inning. He then scored on a Jonathan Lucroy single, Wright walked again, and both runners were moved up when Zobrist was actually allowed to swing the bat and singled. After Jones then popped out in foul territory it was Eric Hosmer’s turn to come through. Only added to the team after the injury of Mark Teixiera, Hosmer certainly had something to prove. He didn’t disappoint, doubling to CF, clearing the bases, and giving his team the final 5-run lead.

Sports Illustrated’s Peter King (or perhaps just his dog) likes David Wright, too:

I find this interesting because even the most cursory statistics about bunting show that it’s mostly a losing prospect. The chart below shows the likelihood of scoring one run in any given situation. The top row explains the situation with which bases are occupied, left most showing empty bases, right most showing bases loaded. The left column shows the number of outs. The body of the chart showing the chances that one run will be scored that inning if a bunt is attempted in that situation. These stats come from all MLB bunts from 1993 to 2010.

Tom Tango’s 1993-2010 single run expectancy chart for bunting.

As you can clearly see, there aren’t many instances where a bunt will get you an eventual run. Team USA batters did at least bunt in situations where the likelihood of scoring was improved. But with a near-All-Star lineup of great hitters, one must wonder why you would take the bat out of these players’ hands? Zobrist batted 79th in MLB last year with runners in scoring position, with a .270 average. Adam Jones was 43rd, at .278. I can’t think of any reason to have these guys not swing away against a collection of Minor League arms.

So that’s it for Team Canada in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. Despite the weak prospects for the starting pitchers, and some worries about the offence, there were high hopes for this team coming into the tournament. It probably wasn’t realistic to assume that the USA would be an easy opponent, but, with Mexico and Italy sporting rosters that were weaker on paper, a trip to the second round was certainly not out of the question.

Losing Brett Lawrie to an injury surely didn’t help, nor did the notable opt outs of Ryan Dempster, Erik Bedard, and Russell Martin. Having your best players is certainly a great help, but can this not be said of every team in the Classic?

Dempster had a great 2012, and has been a strong pitcher for most of the last five years. However, he’s 35, and joining his new team in Boston for the 2013 season. How much of a difference could he make, even if there weren’t such stringent rules for how much time a pitcher can spend on the mound. And what precisely does Bedard offer, at 34, and five years of disappointing baseball, including spending the entirety of 2010 rehabbing from surgery?

Martin is coming off a halfway decent year, but is also joining a new team in Pittsburgh. Then we hear that he wanted to play SS for this team, and opted out after hearing he would not be allowed to do so. No one could have predicted Robinson’s strong play in this WBC, but surely Whitt would have rather had Martin behind the plate. In any case, he’s not exactly an elite catcher in the MLB, and not likely to be that one player who makes all the difference.

Canada is weak in the middle of the infield, with not a single 2B or SS as an everyday Major Leaguer. The OF is also a problem. Tyson Gillies may be an up-and-comer in the Phillies’ organization, but going hitless as the leadoff batter on this club was an undeniable blow. Adam Loewen, a former SP, may be showing some potential in the Jays’ farm system, but he’s not likely to feature on any MLB All-Star teams.

There really isn’t much in the way of experience in the pitching staff as well. Yes, Taillon and some of these other guys do have a future ahead of them, but closer John Axford is the only bonafide arm. But you have to get to your closing pitcher with a lead. Or, alternately, use him in the highest pressure situations and still have depth to survive the rest of the game.

Team Canada manager, Ernie Whitt, seen here pondering the situation during the 14-4 loss to Italy on Friday night, will likely be back coaching the team in the future. Photograph by: Christian Petersen/Getty

As it stands now, Canada is not amongst the elite national baseball clubs in the world. For that you must look to teams from the USA, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, South Korea, and Japan. That doesn’t mean that all is lost, or that Baseball Canada doesn’t have an enviable program. There is a lot of potential out there, and if the team can get buy-in from future Canadian baseball stars, there could be great success in the the WBC games of the future.

I’ll be watching, and I hope you are, too.

Take Our Poll]]>http://o.canada.com/sports/canada-falls-to-usa-9-4-eliminated-from-wbc/feed0wright-braun-etcchrismelitoJameson Taillon, one of the bright spots for Team Canada in their loss to Team USA on Sunday, threw 4 strong innings. Photograph by: Christian Petersen/Gettybunt chartTeam Canada manager, Ernie Whitt, seen here pondering the situation during the 14-4 loss to Italy on Friday night, will likely be back coaching the team in the future. Photograph by: Christian Petersen/GettyTeam Canada grasps redemption vs. Mexico at World Baseball Classichttp://o.canada.com/sports/team-canada-grasps-redemption-vs-mexico-at-world-baseball-classic
http://o.canada.com/sports/team-canada-grasps-redemption-vs-mexico-at-world-baseball-classic#respondSun, 10 Mar 2013 19:22:01 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=212128]]>Team Canada is currently playing Team USA in the last Pool D game of the World Baseball Classic. The game is a win-or-go-home proposition for both teams.

Just 24 hours after suffering a crushing 14-4 defeat to the surprise team from Italy, Team Canada was in desperate need of redemption. And they got it last night, handing the Mexicans a 10-3 loss. Canada’s strength was both at the plate and on the mound, though the game did not start to get out of hand until the 8th inning, after which Canada was up by six runs.

And it wasn’t just the score that got more out of hand after that, as a bench clearing brawl erupted while Canada batted in the top of the 9th.

Normally you would never see a team bunt when sporting a 9-3 lead in a game. However, given the unique rules that govern how a tie in the standings is resolved in the WBC, improving your run differential can be crucial. Ernie Whitt, manager of Team Canada, surely knew what he was doing when he called for catcher Chris Robinson to attempt a leadoff bunt in the 9th inning. Mexico 3B, Luis Cruz, not expecting a bunt with his opponents sporting a six-run lead, was playing back, and Robinson had himself an infield single. What happened next was exactly what you would see take place in a regular season MLB game, should the situation be the same. Probably feeling as though they were being piled-on, Team Mexico pitcher Arnold Leon plunked the next batter, Rene Tosoni.

This is where we go from knowing the facts, to not being entirely certain of motives.

Whitt certainly did call for the bunt, hoping his team could improve their run differential. It’s unlikely he was trying to inflame the Mexicans, though after seeing his opponents steal a base in the bottom of the 8th inning, perhaps this was a little bit of comeuppance?

I mean, they stole the base in the eighth inning. They’re down six or seven runs. Why do you do it? – Ernie Whitt.

Cruz did have a pseudo-mound visit with Leon after the bunt, seeming to indicate that the pitcher should hit the next batter. The plunking didn’t take place until the third pitch, after homeplate umpire Brian Gorman had warned both benches to take it easy. Did Cruz tell Leon to drop Tosoni? Did Leon intentionally hit the batter? The former question is unknown, though likely; and the latter question is almost certainly answered in the affirmative.

Was the steal in the 8th inning an attempt by the Mexican team to show off a little in what was almost certainly a losing cause? Or was it not intended to offend the Canadians, but rather give the team a legitimate chance at a rally? Hard to say.

Were the hard slides at second base, seen earlier in the game, a contributing factor to the building anger on the field? Perhaps.

In any case, no one really seems to be saying much. Team Mexico manager, Rick Renteria, having spoken with his players, seems to think the whole kerfuffle was some kind of a misunderstanding. “In a normal professional setting, I should say, a 9-3 bunt in that particular situation would be kind of out of the ordinary. But based on the rules that have been established in this tournament — the run differentials and things of that nature — those things may occur. And I think in just the heat of the moment, you lose sight of it and maybe that’s how it occurred. It was just a misunderstanding.”

SB Nation has a great series of animated GIF files, including the one above. One of the most telling, indicating just how much the brawl spilled into the stands, shows Team Canada pitching coach Denis Boucher being hit in the head by a fan’s tossed bottle. SS Cale Iorg hurls it back. Poor decisions all around, folks.

Canadian pitching coach Denis Boucher is hit in the head with a bottle from the stands. SS Cale Iorg throws it back. GIF courtesy of SB Nation.

Seven players were ejected, four from Mexico (Leon, Oliver Perez, Eduardo Arredondo, and Alfredo Aceves), and three Canadians (Tosoni, Pete Orr and Jay Johnson). These seven one-game ejections will be upheld, but the powers-that-be have decided further punishment will not be necessary.

Because at least one club — and potentially both — will not advance to the second round, WBCI has determined that disciplinary measures would not have a meaningful corrective impact. Thus, discipline will not be imposed beyond today’s seven game ejections. It is our firm expectation that the members of Team Mexico, Team Canada and all the tournament’s participating teams will learn from this incident and set a better example — one that befits the sport they share — in the future.

The brawl certainly did mar what was a well-fought game. Both teams really were in a position to win, even as late as the 7th inning. I have never cared for any kind of violence in baseball, always preferring it to remain the “gentleman’s game” it is often called. While hitting a batter is certainly a commonplace occurrence in specific situations, I feel that the risk is always too great. There are far too many instances of players suffering injuries, some career-ending, to make this behaviour acceptable. You may remember last year’s incident between the Phillies’ Cole Hamels, and Nationals’ Bryce Harper, where Hamels felt that Harper needed a plunking to be welcomed to the Big Show. That ended in Harper making his opponents look a little silly by stealing home eventually, and Hamels reprimanded for admitting his actions had been intentional.

In the end, the best revenge is winning.

And that’s precisely what Canada did. Powered by the tremendous offence of Justin Morneau and Michael Saunders, who each collected four hits and three RBI. 3B Taylor Greene added three hits of his own, and the aforementioned Robinson had two. Morneau and Saunders combined for all of Canada’s extra base hits, each smashing two doubles. It’s a small sample size after only two games, but these guys now sport batting averages of .714 and .857 respectively. Joey Votto and Pete Orr also added hits, with Orr, Robinson, and Jimmy Van Ostrand each picking up an RBI. The bats did leave 18 runners on base again, but were a much-improve 7-14 with runners in scoring position. Strikeouts were not as much of a factor, though they did fan a total of seven times.

The pitching was also quite impressive, with starter Chris Leroux, and relievers Trystan Magnuson and John Axford combining for six innings, allowing zero earned runs. Andrew Albers struggled a little, allowing three earned runs over his three innings, though he did not walk a single soul. Leroux threw 64 pitches, one fewer than what would get him immediately yanked based on the round one Pitcher Use Limitations. However, having thrown more than 50 pitches, he’ll not be available for four days. Albers, having thrown 48 pitches, will have to wait one full day before being allowed to pitch in competition again. Magnuson and Axford will not face any restrictions.

Team Mexico’s pitching was surely its Achilles heel. Canada struck quickly in the first inning, scoring four runs off of Marco Estrada, all of them earned. He settled down for his last two innings of work, but the damage was already done. What followed was five innings of four pitchers combining for a further six runs, all earned, on eight hits, striking out four and walking just as many. Dennys Reyes and Daniel Rodriguez got the worst of it, each allowing two earned runs, and not looking at all settled on the mound.

Mexico’s offence didn’t help much, with Gil Velazquez managing the only multi-hit game, and only extra base hit. Team leader, Adrian Gonzalez, went hitless, but did pick up a walk. As a whole, they left 14 runners on base, and were a mere 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

One bright note on defence was Adrian’s older brother, Edgar, playing in LF (out of his normal position at 2B), gunning down Justin Morneau on an attempted advance to 3B.

After beating Team USA 5-2 on Friday night, things were looking up for Mexico. They had been massively disappointed by the surprise drubbing at the hands of Team Italy the night before, so beating a tournament favourite was a good sign. However, losing to Canada so badly, and falling to a 1-2 record, Team Mexico’s players will now head back home, or to their respective Major and Minor League Spring Training facilities.

Team Canada will have to defeat Team USA this afternoon, going live at 4:00 PM ET from Chase Field in Phoenix, the home of the Arizona Diamonbacks.

This will not be an easy feat for the Canucks, with Pirates’ prospect Jameson Taillon taking the hill for Canada, versus Rangers’ starter Derek Holland. Team USA features a veritable “murderer’s row” of offensive talent, including Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Braun, David Wright, and Giancarlo Stanton. If that’s not enough, their extremely experienced bullpen will make late-inning rallies hard to come by.

The game will be available on TV, with Sportsnet Ontario, Pacific, West, and East all starting coverage at 3:00 PM ET according to their schedule. So take a seat, grab a pint, put on your Baseball Canada cap or toque, and get ready to enjoy some great baseball.

]]>http://o.canada.com/sports/team-canada-grasps-redemption-vs-mexico-at-world-baseball-classic/feed0Canada v Mexico - World Baseball Classic - First Round Group DchrismelitoIs this Mexico 3B Luis Cruz indicating that RP Arnold Leon should plunk Canadian Rene Tosoni? GIF courtesy of SB Nation.Canadian pitching coach Denis Boucher is hit in the head with a bottle from the stands. SS Cale Iorg throws it back. GIF courtesy of SB Nation.Mexico's SP Marco Estrada was shelled early, allowing four earned runs in the first inning. Photograph by: Christian Petersen/GettyWhat will Canada and Mexico do for a World Basebrawl Classic encore?http://o.canada.com/sports/what-will-canada-and-mexico-do-for-a-world-basebrawl-classic-encore
http://o.canada.com/sports/what-will-canada-and-mexico-do-for-a-world-basebrawl-classic-encore#respondSun, 10 Mar 2013 00:32:51 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=212022]]>I thought Canada and Mexico, along with the United States had a free trade agreement.

Apparently the details are fleshy when it comes to baseball.

With Canada leading 9-3 in the ninth inning at Chase Stadium in Arizona, Canadian hitter Rene Tosoni was hit by Mexican pitcher Arnold Leon and within seconds, it was on.

Larry Walker knew what was coming.

It was fascinating for the pro-Mexican crowd of 19,581, a baseball dustup, with players rolling on the ground and Boston Red Sox reliever Alfred Aceves channeling Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell.

]]>http://o.canada.com/sports/what-will-canada-and-mexico-do-for-a-world-basebrawl-classic-encore/feed0mmacrossfireWorld Baseball Classic Pool Chttp://o.canada.com/sports/world-baseball-classic-pool-c
http://o.canada.com/sports/world-baseball-classic-pool-c#commentsSun, 03 Mar 2013 14:00:21 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=208495]]>World Baseball Classic games got under way in Pools A and B yesterday, and Pool C fires up in Puerto Rico on Thursday.

Games for this Pool will be held exclusively at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The stadium has a bit of a Canadian connection, having hosted 44 Montreal Expos’ “home” games between 2003 and 2004. It also was the venue for MLB’s 2001 opening day, with the Blue Jays and Rangers starting their season in the park named for Puerto Rico’s first ever big league player.

As with all of the WBC Pool previews that I’ve provided, not every player has made a final decision as to whether or not they’ll actually play in the Classic. Information here is based on the best news available.

SPAIN

This will be Spain’s first WBC, having finished third in the last two European Championships (2012, 2007). Spain hasn’t won a European Championship since 1955, haven’t qualified for the Olympic Tournament since 1992, and have had mostly disappointing finishes in the World Baseball Cup.

The team doesn’t have too much hope of finishing well in this year’s Classic, but seeing them qualify is a triumph in and of itself. Provided they can raise awareness for baseball in Spain, and convince a few of the MLB players who could qualify for the team to join them in the next qualifying series, this team could make some great strides.

Spain has but two players who are likely to see MLB-level ball in 2013, Houston Astros’ RP Rhiner Cruz, and Texas Rangers OF Engel Beltre. Cruz is Houston’s number 28 prospect as per Baseball America, and even saw action in 52 games last year. His numbers were less than stellar though, managing a WHIP of 1.709, an xFIP of 4.79, and an fWAR of -0.4 in 55 IP. Beltre has nearly 3000 PAs in six seasons in the minors for Boston and Texas, exclusively playing at the AA level the last two years. He has shown some flashes of leather, and a bit of power this past season, even hitting 13 homeruns, and posting a wRC+ of 100.

Cuban defector, Bárbaro Cañizares, is another player of note, having struggled through 21 plate appearances for the 2009 Atlanta Braves.

The remainder of the team is made up of a few lower-level minor league players, some guys in the independent leagues in North America, and a few playing in Spain’s División de Honor de Béisbol. It bears mentioning that not a single member of this team was born in Spain, and even their manager, Mauro Mazzotti, is Italian. But they all qualify based on the WBC’s wacky regulations, and I’m sure will be proud to rep for Spain.

VENEZUELA

After finishing third in the 2009 Classic, the Venezuelans are extremely excited to take the field in this tournament. They are probably the best team in this Pool, with a deep array of MLB stars. They’ll have some stiff competition from The Dominican Republic, and maybe some trouble with Puerto Rico, but should certainly make their way to the Pool 2 games in Miami.

2012 AL MVP Miguel Cabrera leads a star-studded team including some of the best players in the game. He’ll be joined on the infield by Asdrubal Cabrera, Elvis Andrus, and World Series winners Pablo Sandoval and Marco Scutaro. The outfield is stocked with Carlos Gonzalez, Gerardo Parra, and Martin Prado.

Pitching is another strength, with Aníbal Sánchez leading the starters, followed by Henderson Álvarez, Jhoulys Chacín, Alex Torres, and Carlos Zambrano. Sánchez pitched for Detroit in last year’s World Series, and will feature in the Tiger’s rotation this season as well. Álvarez, a former Blue Jay who was dealt to Miami in the huge off-season trade, has something to prove after struggling most of 2012 in the difficult AL East. Chacín and Torres, both up and coming players in the Colorado and Tampa organizations respectively, could certainly impress. Zambrano, after having another distracting and confusing season in 2012, will use the WBC as a launching pad to perhaps sign a deal with an MLB club.

Free Agent reliever Francisco “K-Rod” Rodríguez is in the same boat, though he’s had a lot more interest from MLB teams this off-season. He’ll likely act as the team’s closer, though he’ll have help from fellow free agent Juan Rincon, Mexican leaguer Ramón A. Ramírez, Dodger Ronald Belisario, and Wil Ledezma of the NPB’s Chiba Lotte Marines.

Colorado Rockies’ Ramon Hernandez, Arizona Diamondback Miguel Montero, and Salvador Pérez of the Kansas City Royals will be behind the plate.

Offence is undoubtedly this team’s main strength with Miggy Cabrera, Sandoval, and Gonzalez providing tremendous power in the middle of the order. If Sánchez and Chacín can perform well, it will be tough for any other team in this pool to eliminate the team from the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

PUERTO RICO

Puerto Rico has a strong outfield and catching corps, but after that the team is a bit light. Most of the stars from the 2009 team have retired, and free agent starter Javier Vazquez will sit out with a knee injury.

St. Louis Cardinal Carlos Beltrán is probably the best player on this team, though he might lose a step with a bruised toe. He’ll be joined in the outfield by Alex Ríos of the Chicago White Sox, and 2012 World Series winner Ángel Pagán. This is actually a pretty mobile outfield, that can probably cover a lot of ground. However, with the weak pitching staff they’ll have to defend for, they could be kept very busy.

After a monster 2012, Yadier Molina will try to bring Puerto Rico some glory in the 2013 WBC. Photograph by: Dilip Vishwanat/Getty

The Molina brothers, Yadier and José, will provide a lion’s share of the work at the backstop. Yadier, 30, is coming off of a fantastic season for the Cardinals, where he managed a .315/.373/.501/.874 slash line, with 22 HR, 139 wRC+, and 6.5 fWAR.

The infield is made up of some part-time MLB’ers, including Mike Avilés, Irving Falu, and Andy González.

There’s not much to see in the way of the pitching staff, but you should keep a close eye on 18-year-old Minnesota Twins’ minor leaguer José Berríos. According to Baseball America, he’s that team’s number six prospect, and lit up two levels of Rookie Ball in 2012. Seriously, Berrios was fantastic, striking out 14.4 batters per nine innings after facing 113 in 30 2/3 IP. He also posted a 0.620 WHIP, 1.29 ERA, and FIP of 1.41. He was used as a starter for Elizabethtown in the Appalachian league, but more as a reliever for the Gulf Coast League Twins.

THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

This team is Venezuela’s only real competition in Pool C. They’d be a lot better if there were not some notable absences. The Blue Jays’ Jose Bautista will stay with his MLB club while he fully rehabs his injured wrist. David Ortiz has also decided to forego the Classic this year, and Johnny Cueto of the Cincinnati Reds is also kept out after finishing 2012 with an injury. Last, but certainly not least, is superstar Adrian Beltre, who has suffered apparently from soreness during Spring Training tune-ups.

The Dominicans do have a very strong infield, led by José Reyes, Hanley Ramírez, Robinson Canó, and Edwin Encarnación. This may in fact be the best infield in the tournament, with Reyes and Ramírez providing the on-base potential for Canó and Encarnación to drive in the runs. Jays fans should keep an eye on Reyes and Encarnación, as that combination of defensive play between shortstop and first base could be seen often this 2013 MLB season.

Yankees’ superstar Robinson Cano is up for a big contract extension very soon. Will the WBC be another chance to prove his worth? Photograph by: Dilip Vishwanat/Getty

Canó could certainly make a good case to show the New York Yankees’ ownership that he’s worthy of a lucrative contract extension. Proving that he can play in high-pressure situations like the latter rounds of the WBC may prove to the Steinbrenners and GM Brian Cashman that the All-Star 2B is well worth the $100+M he’ll likely receive for his next contract.

Texas Rangers’ Nelson Cruz is the class of the outfield, joined by Alejandro De Aza of the White Sox, and two Blue Jays’ minor leaguers in Ricardo Nanita and Moises Sierra.

Pitching strength will come from starters Edinson Volquez and Wandy Rodríguez, and relievers Santiago Casilla, Octavio Dotel, and Fernando Rodney. These five might be enough to give the D-R a real charge, but it’s not as deep as Venezuela’s staff. Rodríguez is the stronger of the two starters, but has only pitched to career numbers that are almost on-par with the “replacement player” statistics that are prevalent in Sabrmetrics. Volquez, once thought of as a potential ace in Cincinnati, has continued his disappointing career in San Diego starting in 2012.

Thought of as a potential powerhouse in the ’09 Classic, the Dominicans were a major disappointment, losing two games to the Dutch. This team is probably no better than the last iteration, giving me serious pause in thinking they could go deep in 2013. If this team can’t break through to the next round, and beyond, it will be even harder to convince the notably absent players to play in the tournament the next time around.

Take Our Poll]]>http://o.canada.com/sports/world-baseball-classic-pool-c/feed1Pool CchrismelitoAstros' RP, Rhiner Cruz, will hurl for Spain in the 2013 WBC. Photograph by: Scott Cunningham/Getty2012 AL MVP and Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera will highlight Venezuela's roster. Photograph by: Ezra Shaw/GettyAfter a monster 2012, Yadier Molina will try to bring Puerto Rico some glory in the 2013 WBC. Photograph by: Dilip Vishwanat/GettyYankees' superstar Robinson Cano is up for a big contract extension very soon. Will the WBC be another chance to prove his worth? Photograph by: Dilip Vishwanat/GettyWorld Baseball Classic Pool Dhttp://o.canada.com/sports/world-baseball-classic-pool-d
http://o.canada.com/sports/world-baseball-classic-pool-d#commentsTue, 05 Mar 2013 14:30:58 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=209238]]>Three of the teams that will do battle in Pool D of the 2013 WBC were competitors in Pool C during the 2009 tournament. Canada, Italy, and the USA know each other very well by now, and will be joined by Mexico in yet another intriguing bracket.

Canada and the USA are probably the best two teams in this Pool, with Mexico perhaps a tick down, and Italy a step below that. The Mexicans do have an up-and-coming program though, having managed an 8th place finish in the last tourney. Italy’s chances were discounted before play began in the 2009 tournament, and they surprised almost everyone by defeating Canada in both teams’ second games.

The last tournament was a disappointment for the Americans, completing both Pool C and Pool 2 of Round 2 in losses to the Venezuelans. To some, this tournament is supposed to be like the heady days of the 1992 Olympics when professionals from the NBA dominated the world by a margin of 44 points-a-game, never once calling a timeout. The USA baseball team should dominate easily, but have yet to even appear in a WBC final. Some chalk this up to a large number of notable absences, as the top players opt out for a myriad of reasons.

This can also be true of the 2013 iteration of Team USA. The number of players who aren’t playing for this team is too numerous to list fully, but it starts with SP Justin Verlander and Matt Cain, OF/2012 Rookies-Of-The Year Bryce Harper and Mike Trout, and NL MVP Buster Posey. I’ve ready many a preview stating that team USA would be unstoppable if all their best players could be on the roster, but one can make the same argument for Cuba without those who have defected, and Team Japan’s missing stars.

The team that will take the field is still quite talented, and will likely plough through these preliminary games.

Brand new Blue Jay R.A. Dickey, Gio Gonzalez of the Washington Nationals, and 2012 World Series winner Ryan Vogelsong of the Giants will lead the pitching corps. Look to Heath Bell as the closer, and Jeremy Affeldt, Mitchell Boggs, and Luke Gregerson to hurl well from the bullpen.

Their battery mates will made up of Joe Mauer of the Twins, and J.P. Arencibia of Toronto. Jonathan Lucroy will get some cuts and time at the backstop as well.

He’s only 23, but that won’t stop Giancarlo Stanton from crushing his opponents this season, and in the WBC. Photograph by: Greg Fiume/Getty

I don’t mean to make any kind of a knock against the infield, but the American outfield is pretty ridiculous this year. Giancarlo Stanton, a youthful slugger, and the one remaining star from a once well-thought-of 2012 Miami Marlins team, is a guy on which you should keep your eye. This team is the best group of talent he’ll play with this year (other than a near guaranteed All-Star appearance), joining Oriole Adam Jones, Shane Victorino of the Red Sox, and 2011 NL MVP Ryan Braun of Milwaukee.

The infield will not be far behind, featuring perennial star Mark Teixeira of the Yankees at 1B, New York Met David Wright at 3B, Shorstop Jimmy Rollins of the Phillies, and Brandon Phillips of the Reds at 2B. Utility players Willie Bloomquist of Arizona, and the Tampa Bay Rays’ Ben Zobrist round out the infield.

It’s not hard to see why this team is so strong. A lineup made of that group should not have trouble putting up tremendous numbers against nearly any opposition. The pitching staff is not made up of slouches either, with at least three guys who can shut down some of the best batting orders in the MLB. I am especially intrigued to see how Dickey does against international foes. Will he dazzle and mystify those who have yet to experience his unique knuckleball?

CANADA

It would be awfully nice if Team Canada could get some help with the pitching staff, especially in the starting rotation. Ryan Dempster is probably the best Canadian starter in the game today, but he won’t be playing in the 2013 WBC — instead choosing to get acquainted with his new team in Boston. Erik Bedard is in a similar situation, looking to dispel his recent history of injury riddled seasons and have a solid year with the Astros. Russell Martin, who was going to apparently be this team’s shortstop, decided to opt out of play after being told he wouldn’t be allowed to take that position.

Joey Votto is probably Canada’s best chance for victory in the WBC, but may not be able to play due to recovery from injury. Photograph by: Christian Petersen/Getty

And even when considering the players who are supposed to play, we can’t be sure. Canada’s best superstar, former NL MVP Joey Votto, may not even play. His dual knee surgeries last year cost him 50 games, and he’d like to be sure he can be on-field coming opening day for the Cincinnati Reds. With his whopping 10-year $225M contract starting in 2014, you can hardly blame him.

Fortunately, Canada has a serviceable power-hitting backup in another former MVP, with Justin Morneau. The Twins’ 1B/DH has had some rough seasons in the past few years, but is looking to have a strong WBC. He’s joined on the infield by Blue Jays’ 3B Brett Lawrie, the Phillies’ Pete Orr, and Cale Iorg of the Detroit Tigers. Don’t be surprised if you recognize that name, as Iorg is the son of long-time Blue Jays’ 3B Garth Iorg, and nephew of Dane Iorg who played for four MLB teams.

Chris Robinson and John Suomi are the team’s catchers, and will mostly be looked upon to just keep things calm and even behind the plate. Robinson, 28, has floundered in the Minors since 2005, and mostly recently with the Cubs and Orioles. Suomi has nearly 3000 PA in 12 MiLB seasons with Oakland, Pittsburgh, Washington, Kansas City, and Philadelphia.

Pitching is undoubtedly Team Canada’s weakness, though not quite as much in the bullpen as in the rotation. Milwaukee Brewer John Axford is one of the finest closers in the game, even after taking a step back in 2012. Jesse Crain was to pitch for this team as well, but withdrew yesterday after suffering a shoulder injury at the Chicago White Sox Spring Training facility. Phillippe Aumont, who threw to decent success in 14 2/3 innings for Boston last year, is also in the ‘pen, and could be a useful addition. You should also look for Jameson Tallion, a highly-touted prospect in the Pirates’ organization, who has been ripping apart opposing batters over the last two MiLB seasons.

We’ve heard that the team will start Shawn Hill in game one and Chris Leroux in game two. Neither is particularly very confidence inspiring, but could put together a decent outing. Where the team goes with its starters after that is anyone’s guess, though Manager Ernie Whitt probably knows best.

MEXICO

Team Mexico could have an extremely good 2013 WBC, especially if they can catch a little fire. They played better than expected in Pool B of the last tournament, scoring 41 runs in their first 4 games. Sadly they also allowed 16 runs in the Pool B final, before being eliminated by Cuba in the Pool 1 preliminaries. Despite being weaker than the USA and Canada on paper, this team cannot be discounted as a possible victor in Pool D.

The team pretty much starts and stops with 1B Adrian Gonzalez, SP Yovani Gallardo, and CP Sergio Romo.

Gonzalez, getting ready to start his first full-season with the re-loaded Los Angeles Dodgers, will sit at the heart of the order and be looked at to provide the lion’s share of this team’s offence. There isn’t much other batting prowess on this team, though perhaps Jorge Cantu, who hasn’t played in MLB since 2011, can put up some numbers. New York Yankees’ utility infielder Ramiro Pena may also add some much needed energy.

Gallardo is easily the team’s best pitcher, and is even considered the Ace of the Brewers’ staff. Jaime Garcia of the St. Louis Cardinals was meant to play in this year’s tourney, but is sidelined with an injury. Final word on who will start game two for the Mexicans is not yet decided, though fellow Brewer Marco Estrada is a favourite. World Series winner Romo is the class of the bullpen, but will get some help from Alfredo Aceves, Rodrigo Lopez, Cesar Ramos, Dennys Reyes, and Fernando Salas.

ITALY

There are a number of teams in the WBC that do not boast a roster of players who were actually born in-country. As you may remember from my first post on the World Baseball Classic, the rules are pretty lax on who can play for which team. Team Italy is certainly no exception, with a vast majority of its players having been born overseas. But that won’t stop the Azzurri from attempting to improve upon their tenth place finish in the 2009 Classic.

While they don’t have any of the big names of any of the other teams in Pool D, there are a few players of note.

1B Anthony Rizzo, who is beginning his first full campaign with the Chicago Cubs, has long been seen as a fantastic prospect with tremendous potential. His 2012 slash line of .285/.342/.463/.805 with 15 HR, and an OPS+ of 119 in 368 PA was very encouraging.

Nick Punto, who recently signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, doesn’t provide a ton of offensive support, but is a competent defender and a veteran leader. He’s joined in the infield by Mike Costanzo and Alex Liddi, a pair of players who were once thought of as decent prospects, but still have much to prove.

Team Italy, lead by Chris Denorfia, seen here narrowly missing on a very acrobatic play for the Padres last year, will bring his hard-nosed style to the 2013 WBC. Photography by: Bob Levey/Getty

Chris Denorfia is the only outfielder on the team with MLB experience, and after having a tremendous 2012, he could be a big part of this team’s offence. His slash line of .293/.345/.451/.796 last year, with a wOBA of .345, and 123 wRC+ was most impressive, especially after being bounced all over the Padres’ batting order, including a good chunk in the leadoff position.

Jason Grilli is the team’s only pitcher with significant MLB experience, but, given that he’s a closer, it’s not likely he’ll be seen often.

Team Italy would be better if a few notable absences were suiting up for 2013. Francisco Cervelli has a huge job ahead of him, duking it out for a catcher position with the Yankees. Given that this is the first year in many that the Bronx Bombers don’t have a clear backstop going into the season, it’s no surprise that Cervelli wants to put his best foot forward with his MLB club. Instead, Drew Butera of the Minnesota Twins will do most of the work behind the plate. Despite his mighty struggles with the bat in three partial seasons in the Majors, he has the backup job locked up in the Twin Cities.

While it’s true that Mexico, and to a lesser degree Italy, can give Canada and the USA some trouble, don’t look for the Italians to stir things up too much.

Take Our Poll]]>http://o.canada.com/sports/world-baseball-classic-pool-d/feed1WBC Pool DchrismelitoHe's only 23, but that won't stop Giancarlo Stanton from crushing his opponents this season, and in the WBC. Photograph by: Greg Fiume/GettyJoey Votto is probably Canada's best chance for victory in the WBC, but may not be able to play due to recovery from injury. Photograph by: Christian Petersen/GettyBrewers' Ace Yovani Gallardo will lead Team Mexico's starting rotation. Photograph by: Mike McGinnis/GettyTeam Italy, lead by Chris Denorfia, seen here narrowly missing on a very acrobatic play for the Padres last year, will bring his hard-nosed style to the 2013 WBC. Photography by: Bob Levey/GettyWorld Baseball Classic Pool Ahttp://o.canada.com/sports/world-baseball-classic-pool-a
http://o.canada.com/sports/world-baseball-classic-pool-a#commentsFri, 01 Feb 2013 14:00:06 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=192092]]>Two weeks ago I posted a piece regarding the 2013 World Baseball Classic, and promised to follow up with reviews of each pool, and eventually the scores and analysis from each game. I didn’t do that in a timely fashion partly because I’ve been very busy, but also because I’m a very lazy man. I would apologize for that, but, being so lazy, instead I’ll just suggest you read this summation of Pool A.

JAPAN

While the final roster is not yet set for the Japanese team, there are no regular MLB players yet listed. With names like Ichiro, Darvish, Aoki, Fukudome, and Kuroda either promised not to attend, or not yet confirmed, the team will be down a few talented stars.

This probably won’t be too much of an impingement on the team that has won the last two (also first two) World Baseball Classic championship games. I’m especially interested to see the play of the following players:

Veteran C, Shinnosuke Abe, seen here during the 2008 Olympics, will be one of Team Japan’s leaders in the 2013 WBC. Photograph by: Mark Dadswell/Getty

Kenta Maeda – SP – The 25-year-old had a fantastic year for the Hiroshima Carp, posting a 0.994 WHIP in 29 starts, striking out 171 of 820 batters in 206 1/3 innings. It will be interesting to see how he pitches in front of the world, especially if he is to make the transition to the MLB as some rumours have indicated.

Tadashi Settsu – SP – The Softbank Hawks ace starter finished 2012 with a 1.19 ERA, 1.045 WHIP, and a 17-5 record in 193.1 innings. Settsu is another player who may end up in an MLB uniform in the near future.

Shinnosuke Abe – C – As one of the team’s veterans, Abe will be looked upon to provide leadership. He didn’t get to play much in 2009, but could get the lion’s share of the time behind the plate this WBC. His 2012 line with Yomiuri was 340/.429/.565/.994, with 27 HR, and 104 RBI.

Hayato Sakamoto – SS – At only 24, Sakamoto is another of the players who may require a large posting fee to be plucked from from his home in Tokyo. Hopefully he can fare better than previous MLB middle infielders Kaz Matsui, Akinori Iwamura, and Tsuyoshi Nishioka. His .311/.359/.456/.815 in 2012 is encouraging.

CUBA

As always, much less is known of the Cuban team than most of the other national units entering this competition. However, it is well known that the team will have little difficulty challenging for the top spot in this pool and the entire tournament. Cuba finished second in the ’06 WBC, but did not clear their round 2 pool in ’09.

Frederich Cepeda – OF – Along with Cuban defector and Oakland Athletics’ current star Yoenis Cespedes, Cepeda was listed on 2009’s All-WBC team, dazzling many in the media. What does he have in store for 2013?

Vladimir Garcia – SP – Garcia has been a dominant force in Cuban ball for some time, especially his high K totals. He did not have a fantastic ’09 WBC, but has improved his play since then and may be interesting to watch.

Odrisamer Despaigne – SP – Though he hasn’t pitched in the WBC before, Despaigne might be to the 2013 team what Norge Vera was to the ’09 team. The soon-to-be 26-year-old Havana Industriales star hurler has a great opportunity to impress the baseball world and inspire his homeland.

CHINA

Royals SP, Bruce Chen, will pitch for Team China for the first time, in this year’s WBC. Photograph by: Ed Zurga/Getty

Bruce Chen will serve as the only regular MLB player on the Chinese roster, and will certainly be relied on very heavily by this team. I would love to be able to recommend a few more of these players for you to peruse, but a vast majority of the guys on the roster are mostly unknown. Infielder, Ray (Bo-Shue) Chang, born in Kansas City, MO, has bounced around in the Padres, Pirates, Red Sox, and Twins organizations since 2005, and will play for the Reds’ organization this year. Almost none of the players from the ’09 team will play in this year’s WBC.

BRAZIL

The Brazilian team isn’t much better off going into the 2013 WBC, having cleared surprisingly the Qualifier 3 pool in Panama City against Colorado, Nicaragua, and Colombia. Mariners’ prospect Felipe Burin was tearing up the minors until the 2012 season. The Chicago White Sox’ starter Andre Rienzo may also be worthy of attention after a fairly decent 2012 spent between Winston-Salem, Birmingham, and Charlotte.

Up next is Pool B, and teams from South Korea, The Netherlands, Australia, and Chinese Taipei.

Take Our Poll]]>http://o.canada.com/sports/world-baseball-classic-pool-a/feed1Pool-AchrismelitoVeteran C, Shinnosuke Abe, seen here during the 2008 Olympics, will be one of Team Japan's leaders in the 2013 WBC. Photograph by: Mark Dadswell/GettyCuban OF, Frederich Cepeda, seen here crushing a homerun in the '09 WBC, looks to impress once again. Photograph by: Kevork Djansezian/GettyRoyals SP, Bruce Chen, will pitch for Team China for the first time, in this year's WBC. Photograph by: Ed Zurga/GettyMMA Crossfire – Pacquiao vs Marquez IV predictionshttp://o.canada.com/sports/mma-crossfire-pacquiao-vs-marquez-iv-predictions
http://o.canada.com/sports/mma-crossfire-pacquiao-vs-marquez-iv-predictions#commentsFri, 07 Dec 2012 00:33:43 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=163836]]>The general consensus is that Juan Manuel Marquez was robbed the last time he fought Manny Pacquiao.

Certified professional boxing instructor Noel Clubb divides his time between Pound 4 Pound in Markham & Pickering, Ontario. He also instructs at MMA World Academy/ Clubb Canada (Amateur & Professional Boxing) located in Scarborough, Ontario, where he is currently building a competitive boxing team.

Juan Manuel Marquez listens to questions from reporters upon arriving at the MGM Grand Hotel-Casino, Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012, in Las Vegas. Marquez is scheduled to face Manny Pacquiao in a welterweight boxing match on Saturday.

39 years old

Height: 5’7″

67″ Reach

54-4-2

38 KOs

Manny Pacquiao, left, and Juan Manuel Marquez pose for photos during a news conference, Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012, in Las Vegas. Pacquiao and Marquez are scheduled to face off in a welterweight boxing match on Saturday.

Clubb: Congressman Pacquiao will look to re-establish his winning ways against Marquez after a disappointing loss decision against Timothy Bradley. Pacquiao will come out strong in the early rounds looking and waiting to establish his hard awkward crosses behind his quick explosive jabs. The old “tap, tap, bang” approach from Pacquiao.

Marquez will need to get off his quick counters after Pacquiao’s quick combinations. However, It would be best if Marquez can demonstrate aggressive offensive attacks in the early rounds against Manny, just to show him he can’t be pushed around and to get into his head. This could help turn the momentum in Marquez’s favour. Marquez will not be no pushover. He is a 4-time world champion, after all. I do believe Manny’s hand speed is a little faster and more awkward to deal with, advantage Pacquiao. The Pac-Man has still his knockout power and ability to end the fight in the later stages. I do believe however, this will go to a decision in the end.

My main concern for Pacquiao is his lack of “hunger” in the ring. I can not help to think that his life has changed so much now, priorities have been shifting and he is after all preparing for his post-boxing life as a congressman.

I do expect a good exciting fight with lots of exchanging of blows. I am calling for a Manny Pacquiao decision, with some near knockout possibilities.

Muldoon is synonymous as the boxer Austin Reed on the soap opera Days of Our Lives. You can see him this Sunday in the TV movie All about Christmas Eve, with Haylie Duff December 9th at 9pm EST on the Lifetime Network.

LAS VEGAS, NV – NOVEMBER 12: (L-R) Juan Manuel Marquez throws a right to the head of Manny Pacquiao during the WBO world welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on November 12, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Muldoon: The Pac-Man will knock him out in the 4th round. I think he is going to go all out; he doesn’t want another 12-round war. My prediction based totally on a feeling, not anything to do with brain matter. I love Marquez as old-school textbook boxer, but before Pac burns out, I want to see him fight [Floyd] Mayweather. If he knocks out Marquez – which would not be easy – the fans will demand Pacman and Mayweather.

Certified professional boxing instructor Noel Clubb divides his time between Pound 4 Pound in Markham & Pickering, Ontario. He also instructs at MMA World Academy/ Clubb Canada (Amateur & Professional Boxing) located in Scarborough, Ontario, where he is currently building a competitive boxing team.

Clubb: This is Hatton’s first fight back since his loss to Manny Pacquiao back in May 2009. After a lengthy battle with substance abuse and depression, Hatton seems ready and excited about his return back to the ring. Hatton is also a boxing trainer and this will help him look at himself a little more objectively in his own approach to his training, methods, and strategy against Senchenko.

Hatton lost against the two best pound for pound fighters in the world, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, will be looking to make a big impression with everyone watching.

Hatton stated recently, “I can’t wait to get in the ring now and I’m sure that Vyacheslav Senchenko will give me a good fight. It’s one that I am confident that can win.

“Senchenko lost the last time he fought Paulie Malignaggi (welterweight) but he has got a good pedigree. I’m in great shape, I’m feeling good and I know I can put on a performance for all those watching.”

Meanwhile, Senchenko suffered his first defeat in his boxing career this past April to Malignaggi in a ninth round knockout. Malignaggi lost to Hatton previously.

Hatton hand picked Senchenko as his next opponent. Senchenko is ranked 5th by the WBA welterweight division.

I expect Hatton to perform and perform well, with lots of aggressive attacking. He will be looking to land his punishing right hand blows. Expect a late knockout in the eighth or ninth round from Hatton. There is the issue of of shaking off the ring rust. However, Hatton should still have a commanding performance this Saturday night.

I am predicting an eighth or ninth round KO of Senchenko for an official boxing comeback for Hatton. If that were to happen, Maligaggji would likely be the next match-up for Hatton sometime in early 2013.

Noel Clubb prediction: Ricky Hatton knockout.

The fight takes place November 24th at 7PM English time on pay-per-view. The price is £ 14.95 .